True Rising: Mark of the Defenders

by Tanishq Sheikh

  Ten minutes later, a nurse appears with a bundle nestled in her arms. “Are you the father?”

  I don’t hesitate, a wide smile playing at my lips. I stretch my arms forward. “Yes, I am.”

  The nurse shifts the baby into my arms. “Congratulations, it’s a girl.”

  I’m awestruck. The baby is wrapped in a soft fleece blanket. I peek in to see a tiny, red, wrinkled face that’s trying to decide if it was such a good idea to be born. The baby manages to find her own thumb and suck on it. My heart melts and unknown to me, tears flow down my cheeks. This is the most precious moment of my life and I’m thankful with every breath that I have for this miracle of life.

  * * *

  Slow tears stream down Partho’s face as he gazes at me. “I have loved you every moment of my life, Poppy.”

  My eyes fill with unshed tears. Somehow it’s heartening to know it was Partho Sangram who had first held me. I rise from the couch to go stand before him. The need to comfort him is greater than my need to judge him. He takes my hands in his and lays a kiss on top of mine. “I never regretted you, Prisha, despite what happened between me and your mother. I tried being there for you whenever I could.”

  I nod, letting my own tears flow. “I remember.”

  He stands up to give me a warm embrace. “I didn’t want to leave you but something happened…”

  I look up at him. “The accident.”

  He nods, looking forlorn. He gestures me to sit and takes his place back on the chair. “Around six years after your birth, my family managed to locate me. They sent one of my brothers with a message: The Kleshas had marked me to unravel the secrets of the Triad through my first born. You were conceived by the command of one of the most powerful Kleshas, Firion who sent Raati to your mother. With your birth, Raati attached herself to you. Her duty was to ensure you find the perfect mate.”

  My eyes widen as they turn to land upon Ajaz. His family are Defenders like the Sangrams. Was it by chance that our paths crossed or was it Raati’s doing? A sharp pain pierces my heart. Does this mean my love for Ajaz isn’t real? No!

  Ajaz sees the devastated look on my face. He shakes his head to deny my thoughts, to deny my uncertainty. I love you, he mouths.

  Partho senses my dilemma. His hand covers mine to give a reassuring squeeze. “Do not doubt your emotions, Prisha. Raati can’t overpower them. What you feel for each other is real.”

  Unbidden tears escape my weary eyes. His words are the best gift I could ever get in my life. I could never have lived doubting my relationship with Ajaz. He’s my one true love, my soul-mate, my ever-after.

  “It was your destiny to meet your soul mate. But soul mates can drift apart. Some never meet. Raati ensured you landed up together.”

  I reflect back to my brief relationship with Nik and Ajaz’s with Nadira. Raati ensured they both got out of our way so that we could be together. If she hadn’t interfered, I would’ve easily lost Ajaz. Should I be grateful to her? What price are we going to pay for this union?

  Partho rifles through his desk to re-fill his pipe. He lights it up sending a spiral of smoke up into the dreary room. “After my brother’s visit one thing was clear. I had to find a way to stop Raati from hurting you. I had to take my family’s legacy forward. I visited my family and sought their blessings. My father learnt through his meditations that Raati was haunting you. He gave me the knowledge to get her under control. That’s what I was doing the night she revealed herself to me on my way back. I was compiling a strong mantra for you to wear. On my way back, Raati attacked me and left me with a warning.”

  I have lost count of how many times my heart has had that sunken feeling tonight. I instinctively know what he’s going to say next.

  Partho is beyond pained but he has to reveal everything to me. “She warned me to stop trying to protect you or she would take Anushri away from me.”

  Yep. That hurt. Always the second choice. Both my parents gave up on me for my siblings. I want to rant and rave against their betrayal. Their abandonment. Was I so dispensable to them both?

  A hollow space forms in my heart. It’s where I’d like to hide forever. Just moments ago I was happy with his emotional tales of holding me as a baby but now my adult self is busy putting up bricks for a strong wall.

  “Poppy, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” He weeps begging my forgiveness.

  “It’s all right.” Yes, it was all right. I’m just glad I didn’t call him Dad.

  I stand up to go stand by the large window. I need to protect myself from so much. For once I need to keep Ajaz away. His love makes me weak. I need to stay strong. The world is as dark outside as the emotions stirring in me. No! I will not indulge in self-pity! It’s one of the Kleshas!

  I turn to face Partho with steely determination. I have not come here to dwell on the past. I have come here to protect my future. “Tell me all I need to know.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Memories – Partho.

  I leave the neighbourhood where my first-born lives as soon as possible. As much as I love her, I can’t risk Anushri getting hurt. I’m not learned enough to protect them both. But I plan to change that.

  I spend a few years in Mumbai before shifting to Kanpur, Uma’s hometown. In Mumbai, I was unable to concentrate on my goal but in Kanpur I have more space and time to devote to my studies. But it isn’t enough. I need the scrolls. So I travel to back home to Nepal. I have bought a house for Uma and Anushri and I tell them I’m going abroad for a company project. They have no idea I’m in Nepal. I pay them frequent visits but at times I’m away for more than six months at a stretch.

  In time, I master all the secrets except the Apeksha. My parents feel it’s because I’m too old to comprehend its depth. Or I’m too corrupt with my exposure to the outside world.

  It’s a small setback but I’m confident I can suppress the Kleshas with the knowledge I have. I have spent years over their mastery, I have learnt to control and subdue many Kleshas and am sure I can save Prisha.

  Before I seek her out, I pay a visit to my family. My power evokes fear in the Kleshas and Raati has been warned. She knows I can overpower her and cause her plans to fail. Unknown to me, Raati has latched on to Uma.

  On my first night back in Kanpur, Anushri is staying overnight with her grandparents. Uma and I have a peaceful dinner before Raati initiates my seduction through Uma. It’s too subtle for me to notice. I give in to my physical needs but at my weakest moment, I can feel Firion take over my senses. My powers are weakened. I battle him as best as I can. There are times when I almost manage to capture him but Raati uses Uma against me.

  Uma launches herself at me. Eyes blazing, she hits out at me with inhuman strength. Together Firion and Raati attack me till I’ve almost lost my senses. I’m unable to hurt Uma even as she keeps up her violent tirade against me. At my weakest moment, Firion takes over my physical being and I can’t resist him. He uses my body to unleash terror upon Uma. I’m trapped inside my own body. I have no control over my actions. I watch myself in horror as I rape and torture Uma. My beloved Uma! My heart bleeds for her but Firion shows no mercy. He leaves me with a warning and the death of my wife on my hands. I have no choice but to escape back to my family home.

  It takes me a while to recuperate before making my way to Nepal. Those are the darkest days of my life. I’m in fear for Anushri and bundle her up with the best defensive mantras I know. I can just hope they will not harm her.

  I escape to Nepal after more than a month only to learn my parents died on the same night as Uma. How was it possible? I learn later that my parents had been tricked into visiting a nearby village as guests at a wedding by the Kleshas. On their way back, their car met with an accident and plunged into the river below.

  I’m devastated at their loss, at my loss. With one master stroke the Kleshas have proven they are much more powerful than we think.

  So far we have been learning the art of protecting the secrets from them but it is
now time to learn to protect ourselves from the Kleshas.

  Protect the defenders.

  * * *

  The words seem to swirl around the wafts of smoke from Partho’s pipe before sinking in slowly into my conscious mind. If the Kleshas are as powerful as Partho’s says, then is there any hope for my child?

  I need the answer now. “Can you protect my child?”

  He’s sitting at his desk, his head bowed in resignation, his hands clasped in front of him. He looks up directly at me. I’m holding my breath waiting for his answer. “No. I can’t.”

  I suck in sharply, sinking into the drapes behind me.

  “But I can protect you.”

  Twenty - six

  Sharing secrets.

  The room, Partho shows us into, is sparse of furniture. It lies on the far end of the mansion, almost like a detached building. We access it through a long balcony with latticed walls that allow the thin rays of the half-moon to peek in.

  The walls and the floor are barren. There are no tiles, no cement or paint completing the finish. There is just dense, pressed, red mud. There is no electricity either, the lantern that Partho has brought with him is the only source of light. It bounces off the red walls at places allowing us to see the fine inscriptions engraved within. This must be the study room for the scrolls. The scrolls themselves are not to be seen. I’m sure they’re locked away somewhere safe from the Kleshas.

  Partho locks the room from the inside while on the outside a bolt is driven across by Manu. Partho then turns to a small cupboard that I hadn’t noticed before. It that stands in the corner, engraved with similar inscriptions as the walls. Partho patiently goes about removing some items from its folds.

  He motions me to sit in the centre of the room. I do as he bids and sit cross-legged with Ajaz sitting close behind me. Almost too close, for I can see Partho frown. Ajaz doesn’t budge. He can be insolent when he wants to.

  Partho turns his attention to me as he takes a seat on the floor opposite me. He sets a copper bowl beside him with a quill made from the feather of a white peacock and a conch shell. “Prisha, you are my first born, the true keeper of the legacy of the Sangram clan. The one who wields the power of the secrets is destined to be the most powerful being in this realm. Tonight, I entrust you with our secrets, with our powers, with our faith and belief. Do you accept your legacy, my child?”

  My eyes are bright and eager. “Yes, I do.”

  He takes in a deep breath. “Prisha Sangram, tonight your legacy summons you. As your father by blood, I entrust you with all that I have. Once I begin, unseen forces will plague us and try to corrupt our minds. Hold steady and do not lose your focus. Do you give your word?”

  “Yes, I do.” I can feel Ajaz’s warmth at my back. I’m ready.

  “Raati is attached to you so she will rise to distract you. Do not lose your focus.” With a last warning, Partho picks up the conch shell and blows through it.

  In the quite of the night, the hollow trumpet-like sound of the conch shell travels far and wide causing my skin to break out in goose bumps. It’s a warning to all beings, mortal or otherwise; keep away.

  Partho has left his hair loose letting it surround his head like a silver halo. He holds a rudraksh mala in one hand and begins chanting. It sounds strange and melodious even though it makes no sense whatsoever. At times he softens the pace then lifts it up again racing through the hymns and chants.

  My eyes begin to droop and close as his voice drones on. My senses are heightened behind my closed lids. I can feel the vibration of each and every syllable that comes out of his lips. They enter through my breath and reverberate throughout my body before getting absorbed deep into my being. I lose my sense of time, I lose my bearings, my sense of self. My Doshas rise to the forefront establishing my humanity with its connection to the elements of space, air, water and earth. They lift me out of my body, letting it float above the heads of my mortal body and that of Partho and Ajaz. I can see them clearly.

  Then I get pushed back down. A slow chill rises from my extremities beginning a journey to my core. She’s here!

  Raati licks my ear with her icy tongue even as she entraps me in her frigid embrace. I freeze. Partho hasn’t noticed her with his eyeballs showing white in their sockets as he continues his chants. I wonder if Ajaz has. I can feel his heat behind me. I want to lean back into him, aroused by his mere presence. It’s Raati, playing tricks on my mind as she tries to make me lose my focus.

  I focus deep within searching through my subconscious mind. “Find the strength within you,” a voice once told me not so long ago, “Find it, find it, find it!” I delve deep into my soul sifting through columns upon columns of randomness. Then I find them. The golden sparkles.

  I tap on their energy, lifting them from within me till they rise up emerging through every single pore of my body. They zap Raati like minute needles startling her out of her wicked intent. I can sense they aren’t too powerful but they’re enough to confuse her into backing away. Then a warmth passes around my wrist and finger where the invisible bands that tie me to Ajaz begin to glow. He’s helping me but restraining his power so that it doesn’t interfere with what Partho is trying to achieve.

  Raati moves away from me, almost huddling into a corner. She can’t get out of the room that is locked with magical, invisible bindings. Being attached to me, she had been able to seek me out through a different realm but now she is stuck.

  Ajaz uses the moment to his advantage. He turns his attention completely on Raati, using his power to pin her away from me. The sparkles fade from me and I once again focus on Partho. My eyes roll up into their sockets, my breathing drops to a whisper, my heartbeat almost stops and I lift out of my mortal body.

  Once out of my body, I’m floating through realms that are colourful and filled with smoke and stars.

  When I finally come to a stop, I find myself floating in a realm I’ve never seen before. It is like being transported into an ancient civilisation. A world made of red mud with inscriptions everywhere. I see a group of ascetics sitting in a circle, chanting in unison. I’m drawn towards them, hovering in the center above them.

  Golden flames of an invisible fire churns rapidly below me. They gather strength and momentum as the chanting increases its pace. They rise to lick my feet, capturing them in a sensuous embrace. They move higher with slow precision till my entire body is embraced by churning flames that seem to have their own language. I can feel their burn and raw power bubbling through my veins.

  The churning flames bring me down to the center of the group to sit on my knees. Now the ascetics take turns to chant. With each chant an inscription rises through the air written with sparkling golden flames and sink in through the skin on my body causing searing pain. I grit my teeth as they enter from every inch of exposed skin, burning, imprinting, disappearing. Once again the ascetics increase the pace of their chants causing my head to flip back. My mouth opens to screech as the flames engulf me completely. With one last glorious swirl around me the golden flames enter my open mouth and then disappear.

  I slowly come to my senses. I’m lying sideways on the floor of the room, my cheek resting on my palm as though I were in the folds of an innocent sleep. I raise myself in sitting position. Ajaz and Partho are in the same positions as before. Raati has disappeared, either gone back to her realm or somewhere inside me. I check myself to see if I can see any imprints on my skin but I see none.

  Partho finishes his chanting. He opens his eyes to give me a triumphant smile. “It’s done, Prisha. You are now a true Sangram.” He dips the white peacock feather quill in the copper bowl and beckons me to lean toward him. Once again chanting something, he uses the quill to draw a pattern in the center of my forehead. “You have the power and knowledge of the ancient secrets within you. Be discreet in the use of your power. Be forewarned, Prisha, the Kleshas will seek you out for this power. They will trick you, manipulate you into taking actions against the world. You have to find the
strength to resist their vile intentions and suggestions. When time comes, make the correct choices. Protect your child. She is now more valuable to the Kleshas. Firion will want to attach to her with Raati.”

  I’m shocked at his warning. What did he just do? He gave me powers only to make my unborn child more vulnerable? “But how can I protect her? Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “Prisha, without the power to protect yourself, the Kleshas would’ve without doubt claimed the baby. They would’ve taken her as soon as she is born. But now, you can stop them.” He looks at Ajaz and then back at me. “You both can stop them. You will be most vulnerable when you go into labour as your focus will shift. Ajaz it is up to you to protect her from Raati, Firion and any other Kleshas that try to overpower her. They will want to enter the child through her.” Partho looks grim as if visualising the scenario. “Prisha, remember you more powerful than you think. May you be protected from all Kleshas.”